Tool for balling and removing of plants



March 27, 1928.

1,663,999 I s. H. SINGLETARY TOOL FOR BALLING AND REMOVING 0F PLANTS 2 Sheets-Sheet '1 fi.lil inylelary March 27, 1928. v 1,663,999

B. H. SINGLETARY TOOL FOR BALLING AND REMOVING OF PLANTS Filed Aug. 26. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Mar. 27,1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

V BENJAMIN HENRY SINGLETARY, OF BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA.

TOOL FO R BALZING AND anMovInG or PLANTS.

Application filed A gust 26, 1927. Serial No. 215,698.

' This invention relates to a transplanting.

not fall away when released from the iinplement,

An additional objec-t of theinvention 15 to provide a device of this kind comprising two relatively movable blades or members which,

when in closed relation, are substantially cylindrical in formwith the upper end of a less diameter than the lower end and wherein the upper end of the substantially. closed blades is circular and the lower end elliptical. l

A still further object of the invention is to provide an implement of this kind which constitutes a plant baller and remover'which operates to remove a plant with the soil intact and leaving. a clean hole as deep asthe implement may be pushed into the soil.

The invention has for an object to pro vide an implement of this kind especially de-' signed and adapted for use in removing plants from seed beds, nursery, or under field conditions without material injury to plants, and more especially from cold-frames, hotbeds and greenhouses. I p

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of theseveral parts of my improved transplanting implement whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expen sive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to de scribe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is an elevational. view of a transplanting device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention with the blades in closed relation;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 with the blades in open relation; f

Figure 3 is a view in elevation of'the clevice as disclosed in the preceding figures at a quarter turn;

Figure 4 is a view in top plan of the structure as'illustrated in Figure l;

' Figure 5'is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 1;

. Figure 6 is a view in elevation'illustrating a slightly modified form of invention;

Figure 7 is a view in'top plan of the structure illustrated in Figure 6.

As is particularly illustrated Figures 1 to 5, my improved transplanting implement, or plant baller and remover as it also may be called, comprises two blades A of substantially duplicate construction each having its upper end portion semi-circular in form and its lower-end semi-elliptical'with the diameter at the top being less than the meandiameter'of the'lower end,

- The upper or smaller ends of the, blades are provided at their longitudinal margins with the overlapping ears or lugs'l through which are disposed rivets 2 or kindredpintle members whereby the blades A have relative swinging movement, said blades being so constructed that when fully closed the opposed longitudinal edges of the'blades below the ears or lugs 1 are adapted to haveclose contact; p I

The upper or pivoted end portions of the blades A midway thereof have riveted, as at 3, or otherwise afiixedtheretothe upstanding handle members 4 provided at their upper or free extremities. with the hand grasps 5; By swinging the handle members 1 one toward the ot-her the blades'A will'be swung outwardly into separated relation whereas opposite movement ofsaid handle members will effect a reverse movement of the blades.

In viewof the design or structure of the blades as hereinbefore referred to, when said blades are in closed relation a cylindrical implement is provided circular at-its top but elliptical at its bottom.

In practice, with the blades A in their 'closed relation the resultant cylinder is placed around the plant to be removed and the blades pushed into the soil. As the blades are lifted outthey bring along all soilas well as the plant leaving a clean hole deep as the implement was pushed into the soil. WVhen it is desired to deposit the plant and soil where desired, the" handle members 4iare brought together resulting in a ready release of the plant and soil. This operation is facilitated by the particular formation of the b'lades A and which is of especial import as the rootsof the plants removed by the implement are undisturbed. My improved implement can be worked rapidly and efiiciently and is of especial advantagein the removal of plantsiron seed beds, nursery .or .under field conditions without injury to plants-and also can be employed with particular advantage in re,- moving plants from cold-frames, liotbeds andgreenhouses. The efliciency of the-implement is such as to justify the elimination of using paper cups and pots, in growing plants, thus cutting out the, cost of the pots and labor for filling the same with :soil. Plants removed with my improved implement may be readily placed on planting boards and carried to place of plantingas if aken. r m pets r -ps- A WVhen using the devce for removing nursery stock the plants can be dropped from the implementfontothe baling material and then tied as when done when digging plants with a spade. I

For use in, connection; with plants of a size whereby the closed blades, cannot be" readily placed over such plants, I-i ind it of advantage to employ .theembodinient of 1-) l Y lt O i ustr d in Figu es 6 nd 7., In thisembodiment otmy invention :the blades A are constructed substantially in the same manner as hereinbefore set forth with respect to the blades Aexcept that adjacentlongitudinal marginal portions of the blades A at a point preferably in close proximity to the Smaller or upper ends thereof are 'hingedly connected, as at 16, for 'elatiye lateral swinging ,movement. The opposite longitudinal marginal portions at said smaller/or upper ends are provided; with the coacting hasp 7 and staple-8 orother preferred locking means whereby the blades A may (be 'eflfectively held in their desired closed relation yet readily discol e nested for the relative outward swinging incr m n w n it is de d to re a e th plant; nd oil held, W th n, he-Q Q edb e le l is el e d to b obvio hat th f rm izmy mprov d mpleme itas he ein for use by reason of the convenience and facility with whichit may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understQod limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formationvo'f the several-parts"herein shown in carrying out myinvention in prac tice'except as hereinafter claimed;

I claim:'

1. An implement of the class described for balling and removing plants; compr'is ing two substantially duplicate blades, means for connecting said blades for movement one with respect to the other, said blades when in closed position providing a substantially cylindrical body, one end portion of said body when vthe blades are in their sub stantially closed positionbeing circular, and the opposite end bfling elliptical.

2. An implement of the class described for balling and removing plants comprisingtwo substantially duplicate blades, means for connecting said-blades for movementione with respect to the other, said bladeswhen in closed position providing a substantially cylindrical body, one end portion oi said body when the'blades are in their substan-.

tially closed position being circular and the opposite end being elliptical, the circular end being of less diameter than the mean diameter of .theelliptical tend.

An implement of thelclass described Flor balling and removingplallfis, comprish gdwo substantially duplicate blades, means. for connecting said blades for r lnoven ent one with respect to theot her, said blades when in closed position providing a substantially cylindrical body, one, end portion or: said body when the blades are vin their suibstantially closed position being circular and the opposite endbeingelliptical,the. circular end b i g, a t e p, a d p rat ng members secured to the blades. at the thereof.

'1 P tre tie e B- H wanna; 

